How to treat a heel spur?

Rest, ice, NSAIDs: The heel spur is a sign that there is traction on the bone, but is rarely the cause of the pain. Plantar fasciitis is usually the culprit. Sudden increases in pain can be treated with rest, good supportive footwear, gel heel cups, ice massage, stretching of the calf muscles and anti-inflammatories (nsaids). All ot these can be done on your own. Of course, physicians can add many treatment measures.

Many ways: Heels spurs are created when too much tension is placed on the plantar fascia which creates inflammation at the origin on the heel bone. The inflammation results in new bone formation through the deposit of calcium. In the past, the heel spurs were surgically removed however, through studys, it has been shown that the pain is rarely due to the spur. So treatment is orthotics and physical therap.

Treat if painful: Heel spurs should only be taken out surgically if they are associated with chronic plantar fasciitis or symptomatic insertional Achilles tendonitis. Plantar calcaneal heel spurs rarely ever cause pain but can be taken out as a last line of treatment for plantar fasciitis. If the heel spurs do not bother you then you do not need to treat them.